Excelvan CL720D LED Projector Review
It seems that low-budget projectors have found their place on the market. What was once inconceivable, is now a reality.
Nowadays, you don't have to pay a fortune to get a decent working projector, with high-quality imagery. Some brands managed to position themselves by being at the top of the game in the low-end projector scene.
One of these brands is Excelvan. With their CL720D, they're not doing any groundbreaking stuff.
However, they do offer value. Read on and find out what that value is. By the end of this article, you'll learn more about this model's best features and characteristics.
Specifications
- Size: 12.6 x 4.5 x 10 inches
- Weight: 8.65 lbs
Key Features
- 1280 x 800 native resolution
- 2000:1 contrast ratio
- 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio
- 3000 ANSI lumens brightness
- TFT single panel technology
- 1080p max resolution
- 25 to 260 inches viewing size
- 28 dB noise level
- 16.7 million displayable colors
PROS
CONS
Overview
Design
Right from the get-go, you can see that the Excelvan CL720D is a sturdy and robust piece of equipment. However, even with being so bulky, you will be able to carry it around with you in your backpack easily.
Then again, seeing that it weighs more than eight pounds, you might opt not to do that. This projector does not belong in the lightweight category.
It Comes in Black and White
When you purchase the Excelvan CL720D, you get to choose from two available colors: black and white. That way, you have the option to match the device to your home or office interior design.
The Excelvan Cl720D comes at a very reasonable price. Therefore, you shouldn't expect anything too spectacular when it comes to design features.
When it comes to such low priced projectors, in most cases, they're built from cheap materials. And it's no different with this model.
Plastic Body
Its entire body is made out of plastic. But, that doesn't have to be that bad. You will just have to be extra attentive when handling the device and make sure it doesn't fall down from a height.
The lens is placed at the front of the projector to your left when you're looking at the device, and it is adjustable.
This means that you can adjust both the lens focus and the screen size. And since the lens has a longer barrel, you won't be in danger from light reflections spreading all around the place.
Aside from lens adjustment, you can set the height and elevation of the projector by using a front post.
Also, if you're unable to project the image in the best conditions, and the picture becomes distorted or warped, there's a keystone correction option available.
That way, you can make the image look perfectly square. Learn more about keystone correction from our guide.
Slight Fan Noise
The cooling vents are placed on each side of the projector. All in all, the fan can be somewhat noticeable.
You might hear some humming when you're watching some quiet movie scenes, but generally, you won't hear much.
It shouldn't be a deal-breaker for you. However, you should be advised that there is a certain amount of noise since some people find this rather obnoxious.
On the backside you can find the 10 Watt built-in speaker that offers some surprisingly good results. To be honest, it is not the best sound in the world.
After all, no one expects projector speakers to be world-class, right? Then again, they will do just fine for most purposes. And you won't have to buy an external set of speakers or a good home theater system.
When you look at the top of the device, you can find some basic controls. Buttons like a power switch, menu, source, volume levels, and channels are all placed on top of this device.
On the opposite side, at the bottom, you'll find adjustable legs. You can use them to incline or decline the projector and adjust the image accordingly.
The remote that comes with this model seems like it was built with functionality in mind. It feels very light and soft to touch and has a large number (52) of easily accessible buttons.
Setup
As we've mentioned before, you can use this device for many different purposes. And for each one of those, the set up will be quite straightforward.
You can connect the projector via your smartphone. That's one of the easiest ways to hook up and hold a presentation.
All you need to do is attach the phone with an OTG cable, and you're good to go. In the end, it will be easier to handle and fiddle around with, and you won't need Bluetooth to shuffle between slides.
Another easy way to hook up the Excelvan CL720D is via HDMI, which is something you'll probably do often. You can use HDMI to connect Chromecast and stream all the latest audio and video content.
As far as the audio setup goes, you need to determine where you'll use the device. Only then you'll be able to act accordingly.
10W Built-In Sound
As stated above, the Excelvan CL720D has built-in speakers. They output a total of 10 Watts (5 in each), which can be enough in many cases.
If you plan to use this model in your living room or bedroom, they might prove to be just enough. Then again, if you wish to use it for a larger audience, you might want to consider getting a pair of external speakers.
There are a couple of ways to set up the audio with this projector.
The first, and most straightforward way is to plug in the HDMI, and then your speakers will have the stereo output.
However, you can't get a real surround sound with this method. This can be achieved either by connecting to a dedicated HDMI receiver which will derive the surround sound audio channels and output them on the projector. Bear in mind that such receivers don't come cheap.
Performance
When you put the Excelvan CL720D to the test, you'll be able to see that it can perform quite well for such a low-end model.
This device has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is nothing spectacular. But it can provide clear and crisp images. On top of that, it can support FullHD or 1920 x 1080 output.
When it comes to brightness levels, it can produce up to 3000 ANSI lumens of brightness. This will prove more than enough to work in almost any setting.
Best to Use in a Dark Room
Granted, if there's a substantial amount of ambient light, the images might look a bit washed out.
However, if you use it in a dark environment, or with a small dose of ambient light, this model can produce a bright and clear image.
And since it utilizes LED technology, the lamp life will be substantially longer. The manufacturer claims that the lamp life is around 50,000 hours, which is more than enough for a regular user.
The aspect ratio is both 4:3 and 16:9. This means that you'll be able to watch both new movie releases in wide-screen, as well as the older ones that were shot with 4:3.
And since 4:3 is still in use today, it's nice to have both options available.
The projected picture can go even up to 120 inches. You will get that canvas if you place the projector at about 13 feet away from the screen.
Bear in mind that when you want to get such a big screen, the image will start to look a bit distorted and degraded.
60-inch Screen Size is the Optimum
You'll get the best results if the image size is about 60 inches. And the projector distance should be from 6.5 and 10 feet away.
Just make sure you manually adjust image sharpness by fiddling around with the lens. That way, you'll keep the image as sharp as possible.
Another nice feature that this model boasts is the 3D capability. That being said, it's not true 3D support.
But, you'll be able to watch 3D movies by using red and blue 3D glasses.
One downside of the image performance is that you sometimes notice blurriness in the corners when displaying files that are not video. So, it shouldn't bother you if you plan to use this projector to watch movies or play video games.
But, if you intend to use it as a business or school presentation projector, such small details can be an inconvenience.
Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the Excelvan CL720D has a lot to offer. With it, you get a substantial number of input ports available.
One of the best things about this model is that it's compatible with a wide variety of devices. You can connect your phone, laptop, consoles, various video players, and many more.
Satellite TV connection
When it comes to connection ports, there are some standard options like 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB, audio in and audio out and VGA. A more unique component of this projector is that you can even connect to satellite TV.
So, in a way, the Excelvan CL720D is adept at playing everything, from videos and music to games and PowerPoint presentations.
In Conclusion
The Excelvan CL720D is proof that you can get a quality projector without breaking the bank. Of course, it's not something that will sweep you of your feet.
Then again, it gets the job done. In the end, when you consider the value for money it delivers, you'll see that it proves to be a good catch.
My name is Steve Scott. Father of 2 and owner of Outdoor Movie HQ. I’ve been involved in the A/V industry for most of my life and built this blog to help people better understand projector technology. Please leave a comment if you have any questions.